IronLynx Breaking news, exclusive interviews & reports - Motorsport Week https://www.motorsportweek.com/tag/ironlynx/ Motorsport Week is an independent, FIA accredited motorsport website delivering the latest Formula 1, Formula E, GP2, GP3, WEC, IndyCar, Nascar, Formula 3, WRC, WRX, DTM, IMSA and MotoGP news and results. Mon, 03 Mar 2025 05:16:12 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/cropped-favicon-1-32x32.png IronLynx Breaking news, exclusive interviews & reports - Motorsport Week https://www.motorsportweek.com/tag/ironlynx/ 32 32 Luca Stolz joins Grove father-son duo in third Mercedes for Le Mans https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/02/luca-stolz-joins-grove-father-son-duo-in-third-mercedes-for-le-mans/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/02/luca-stolz-joins-grove-father-son-duo-in-third-mercedes-for-le-mans/#respond Sun, 02 Mar 2025 15:43:50 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=199561 Mercedes-AMG are the latest manufacturer to join the WEC

Iron Lynx has announced Mercedes-AMG driver Luca Stolz along with Stephen and Brenton Grove in their third LMGT3 car for the Le Mans 24 Hours.

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Mercedes-AMG are the latest manufacturer to join the WEC

Iron Lynx has announced Mercedes-AMG driver Luca Stolz along with Stephen and Brenton Grove in their third LMGT3 car for the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Stolz is a well-affiliated works driver of Mercedes-AMG machinery having finished third at last month’s Bathurst 12 Hours with team-mates Jules Gounon and Kenny Habul.

As Stolz has won the race three times, he has yet to compete at Le Mans with numerous Daytona 24 Hours appearances in the IMSA SportsCar Championship with all but one of the eight starts in something other than a Mercedes-AMG.

Meanwhile Stephen Grove and his son Brenton made their name with three consecutive class-wins at the Bathurst 12H, so they will join Stolz in their collective Le Mans race debut in the #63 Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 on 14-15 June.

Iron Lynx claimed the 2024 European Le Mans Series LMGT3 championship title to have earned a third Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 alongside their #60 and #61 entries for the FIA World Endurance Championship, of which Le Mans serves as the fourth round this year.

Brenton Grove said: “I’m so excited for this year’s programme and the 24 Hour of Le Mans with AMG and Iron Lynx.

“To have the opportunity to compete in the biggest race in the world alongside my father and Luca is definitely my career highlight.

“I’ve watched the race since I was a little kid, so to experience the atmosphere and be in the race during its golden years is something truly special. I can’t wait for the challenge.”

Le Mans as a ‘bucket list’ event

Mercedes is returning to Le Mans for the first time since 1999 and have taken on the Qatar 1812 km season-opener thus far with less than optimal results.

Brenton’s father, Stephen, added: “Le Mans is the last big race on my bucket list.

“I had a taste of the event in 2014 in a support category, but to do the main race is something I’ve always wanted to do.

“To team up with Brenton, Luca and Iron Lynx gives me real confidence for the event.

Luca Stolz raced in the 24 Hours of Daytona on 25-26 January in Getspeed's #69 Mercedes-AMG GT3
Luca Stolz raced in the 24 Hours of Daytona on 25-26 January in Getspeed’s #69 Mercedes-AMG GT3 – Credit: Kevin Dewjewski

“I know the AMG well and I feel now is the right time to take this opportunity and make the most of it.

“I can’t wait for the month of June to roll around.”

Andrea Piccini, Iron Lynx team principal and CEO added: “We are excited to line up one additional car in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and we are proud to represent Mercedes-AMG in their return edition with an expanded programme.

“Both Stephen and Brenton have a good amount of experience, and they are a valuable addition to the team.

“Luca is an outstanding driver.

“I used to be teammates with him in the past, and I know he is extremely talented and experienced.

“He is somebody that the team can truly rely on.”

READ MORE: Iron Lynx used Qatar 1812 km as test for new Mercedes machinery

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Iron Lynx used Qatar 1812 km as test for new Mercedes machinery https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/01/iron-lynx-used-qatar-1812-km-as-test-for-new-mercedes-machinery/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/03/01/iron-lynx-used-qatar-1812-km-as-test-for-new-mercedes-machinery/#respond Sat, 01 Mar 2025 14:30:00 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=199361 Iron Lynx encountered a difficult Mercedes-AMG debut at the Qatar 1812 km

Iron Lynx used the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship season-opener, the Qatar 1812 km, as a test for their new Mercedes-AMG machinery.

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Iron Lynx encountered a difficult Mercedes-AMG debut at the Qatar 1812 km

Iron Lynx used the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship season-opener, the Qatar 1812 km, as a test for their new Mercedes-AMG machinery.

The team suffered a challenging debut with their two new Mercedes-AMG LMGT3s, having used the 10-hour race as a test session.

Mercedes had yet to debut into the FIA WEC and it marked the first time with their new torque sensors, only otherwise introduced to their customer teams firsthand at the IMSA 24 Hours of Daytona.

At the start of the third racing hour, Christian Reid lost the rear end of his #61 Mercedes-AMG due to a technical issue and beached the rear wheels in a gravel trap.

The #61 Mercedes-AMG retired due as the yellow #60 Mercedes encountered problems as well, undergoing a three-hour repair job.

“We knew it was going to be a hard challenge, but we were hoping for something better,” said Iron Lynx team principal and CEO Andrea Piccini.

“Still, we used the second part of the race as a test, and we made some positive steps.

“We must consider that not only was it our first time with Mercedes-AMG in FIA WEC, but it was also the first time we had the chance to collaborate on-site, spending 10 days together to improve the operation and technical aspects.

“We will now be taking all the learnings and improvements into the next round of the year.”

Christian Reid also heads the Proton Competition outfit who compete in both Hypercar and LMGT3
Christian Reid also heads the Proton Competition outfit who compete in both Hypercar and LMGT3 – Credit: Julien Delfosse / DPPI

Iron Lynx and their first race with Mercedes

One of the #61’s co-drivers Maxime Martin added: “First race of the season, and first FIA WEC race for Mercedes-AMG here in Qatar.

“It was big learning curve, and not the easiest weekend, but we had a lot of testing that allowed us to try different things.

“Unfortunately, we had to retire the #61 car for a technical issue.

“Still, we have a lot of improvements coming and I cannot wait to be back in the car to be in a better shape at Imola.”

The 6 Hours of Imola on 20 April will act as a home race for Iron Lynx, who are based locally to the circuit in Cesena.

With the #61’s retirement and #60 non-classification due to the fact they did not completed the required 70% minimum distance to be so, Iron Lynx undoubtedly seek a more competitive outcome.

READ MORE: WEC Prologue ‘learning curve’ for Iron Lynx’s new Mercedes-AMGs

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WEC Prologue ‘learning curve’ for Iron Lynx’s new Mercedes-AMGs https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/02/25/wec-prologue-learning-curve-for-iron-lynxs-new-mercedes-amgs/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/02/25/wec-prologue-learning-curve-for-iron-lynxs-new-mercedes-amgs/#respond Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:45:00 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=198653 Mercedes-AMG are making their WEC debut with the Iron Lynx team in the LMGT3 category

Mercedes-AMG driver Maxime Martin described a steady rate of learning for Iron Lynx with the Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 after the WEC Prologue.

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Mercedes-AMG are making their WEC debut with the Iron Lynx team in the LMGT3 category

Mercedes-AMG driver Maxime Martin described a steady rate of learning for Iron Lynx with the Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 after the WEC Prologue.

The Stuttgart manufacturer is the newest manufacturer to join the FIA World Endurance Championship, having completed 14 hours of testing at the Lusail International Circuit.

Iron Lynx raked over 1,500 km of running for each of their two #60 and #61 LMGT3 entrants across a variety of light, asphalt and temperature conditions.

They have a new partnership with Mercedes for the 2025 WEC season and have been familiarising with the machinery which replaced their Lamborghini Huracan LMGT3 EVO2s.

Martin, having switched from BMW, said: “We had the chance to test in different conditions here in Qatar.

“A bit of everything that we will face in the race.

“It’s the first test for the Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 so it’s a bit of a learning curve, but we feel we made good steps and we are still working.

“We have [had] three days to analyse everything and I’m sure we’ll be in good shape comes Free Practice on Wednesday.”

‘Progress is tangible’ says Iron Lynx CEO

Team principal and Iron Lynx CEO Andrea Piccini added his thoughts: “I think we had two positive days.

“Being on track for the first time with a new car requires finding a compromise, as there is a lot to do in several areas.

“Still, the atmosphere is quite relaxed and constructive and the progress is tangible.

Iron Lynx have a capable driver line-up incorporating youth and experience
Iron Lynx have a capable driver line-up incorporating youth and experience – Credit: Fabrizio Boldoni / DPPI

“We mainly focused on tyre management to understand how much we can lean on the tyres with double stints, and on engine management.

“In addition, we gave our bronze drivers (Christian Reid and Claudio Schiavoni) the time they needed to familiarise themselves with the car, while [Matteo] Cairoli had the chance to learn this track for the first time.

“We will now focus on analysing the data we have got, and prepare for our first race weekend of 2025.”

The Qatar 1812 km season-opener will take place on Friday 28 February and will mark the new chapter for Iron Lynx.

Iron Lynx are hoping for stronger results whilst optimising reliability with the AMG package.

After last year’s struggles with Lamborghini machinery, an approximately 10-hour race will showcase Mercedes’ highly anticipated WEC debut.

READ MORE: WEC Prologue: What the drivers said

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Iron Lynx completes WEC line-up and showcases new Mercedes-AMG liveries https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/02/11/iron-lynx-completes-wec-line-up-and-showcases-new-mercedes-amg-liveries/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/02/11/iron-lynx-completes-wec-line-up-and-showcases-new-mercedes-amg-liveries/#respond Tue, 11 Feb 2025 09:46:01 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=197036 Mercedes-AMG are competing in the second ever season of the LMGT3 category

Iron Lynx has completed their FIA World Endurance Championship driver line-up and have showcased their new Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 liveries.

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Mercedes-AMG are competing in the second ever season of the LMGT3 category

Iron Lynx has completed their FIA World Endurance Championship driver line-up and have showcased their new Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 liveries.

The team has announced their full line-up ahead of their maiden campaign with the Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 package which is debuting into the WEC.

Claudio Schiavoni, Matteo Cressoni and Matteo Cairoli will co-drive the #60 Mercedes-AMG entrant whilst Christian Ried, regarded as the longest serving WEC driver since participating in the inaugural 2012 season, will join ex-BMW pilot Maxime Martin and Lin Hodenius in the #61 Mercedes-AMG.

Andrea Piccini, Iron Lynx Team Principal and CEO, said: “We are very satisfied with how the driver lineup has shaped up, and for the positive collaboration that we have established so far with Mercedes-AMG as we prepare for this new programme.

“So far we have really enjoyed working on the process and preparations.

“On the one hand, we will continue with the experienced combination of Claudio and Matteo, and we will add Matteo Cairoli, who already competed with us last year. He is a really quick driver and has a wealth of FIA WEC experience.

“On the other hand, we will bring back the driver with the most starts in the series, Christian Ried, pairing him with a young racer entering his rookie season, Lin Hodenius.

“He was extremely impressive straight away in testing and we selected him among all potential candidates despite his young age and limited endurance racing experience.

“Joining him and Ried, Maxime Martin will provide incredible value. In addition to being a long-time friend, he is one of the world’s strongest competitors in endurance racing.”

The Prologue test takes place on 21-22 February with the Qatar 1812 km (approximately 10-hours) season-opener on 28 February.

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Maxime Martin joins Iron Lynx for Mercedes WEC debut season https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/12/16/maxime-martin-joins-iron-lynx-for-mercedes-wec-debut-season/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/12/16/maxime-martin-joins-iron-lynx-for-mercedes-wec-debut-season/#respond Mon, 16 Dec 2024 11:22:57 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=191665 Maxime Martin will join Iron Lynx for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship season

Maxime Martin has joined Iron Lynx for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship LMGT3 campaign with Mercedes-AMG machinery.

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Maxime Martin will join Iron Lynx for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship season

Maxime Martin has joined Iron Lynx for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship LMGT3 campaign with Mercedes-AMG machinery.

After recently departing BMW, the 38-year-old joined Iron Lynx as their first driver for the upcoming WEC campaign.

Mercedes-AMG are making their first appearance in the championship in the LMGT3 category, which is entering its second year.

Through doing so, they have partnered with Iron Lynx who have competed in the past six editions of the Le Mans 24 Hours which is one of the rounds on the WEC schedule.

“I’m very happy to join Iron Lynx for the 2025 WEC season, said Martin.

“Mercedes-AMG is a new manufacturer for me and for the team, and I’m definitely looking forward to the year ahead.

“Iron Lynx has a remarkable history, and I have been teammates with Andrea Piccini in the past.

“It will be special to be back with him as the Team Principal. I cannot wait to get started in Qatar and try to win some races.”

Andrea Piccini, Iron Lynx Team Principal and CEO, added: “I have always held Maxime in very high regard.

“We have a friendly relationship, and we also had the chance to race together in 2013, finishing second in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring.

“He’s a really strong driver, extremely quick, and particularly able to master challenging conditions.

“I have seen him do exceptional things throughout the years without any mistakes, which makes him a top contender, especially in long-distance races.

“If we add his experience and team-player ability, I honestly think he’s one of the best possible choices for any team, and I’m proud to welcome him to Iron Lynx for the 2025 season.”

Iron Lynx will announce three more drivers in due course of the 2025 FIA WEC season.

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Mercedes to enter WEC with new Iron Lynx partnership https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/11/20/mercedes-to-enter-wec-with-new-iron-lynx-partnership/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/11/20/mercedes-to-enter-wec-with-new-iron-lynx-partnership/#respond Wed, 20 Nov 2024 10:18:50 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=188058

Iron Lynx and Mercedes are partnering up to enter the WEC LMGT3 class in 2025.

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Iron Lynx and Mercedes-AMG will join forces for next year’s FIA World Endurance Championship, with the two partnering up to enter WEC’s LMGT3 class.

With Lamborghini’s impending withdrawal from both WEC classes, a spot on the grid has opened up in LMGT3. Mercedes unsuccessfully tried to enter last year but were denied as they had no Hypercar effort, and were able to partner with an established WEC team — the two prerequisites for entering, with at least one having to be fulfilled.

With the new Iron Lynx partnership, though, Mercedes have found a team to join forces with. Iron Lynx have raced in the WEC since 2021, initially with Ferrari, then Porsche in 2023, before becoming Lamborghini’s factory partner for 2024.

However, with the relationship between the two having seemingly ended after just one season, Iron Lynx will now embark on a customer partnership with its fourth manufacturer.

The Italian team will enter two Mercedes-AMG GT3s into the championship, with team owner Claudio Schiavoni in one, and long-time Iron Lynx driver Matteo Cressoni in the other.

Iron Lynx also owns and runs the all-female Iron Dames team. However, the Dames are expected to be back in a Porsche next year, partnering with Manthey in the LMGT3 class.

“We are extremely proud to welcome Mercedes-AMG as a partner,” said Iron Lynx CEO and team principal, Andrea Piccini. 

“In addition to being an amazing brand, they are highly motivated, determined, and hungry for success. With such strong support, I am confident we will be able to hit the ground running and be competitive from the start. 

“We cannot wait to receive our new Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 race cars, start our preparation work for 2025, and continue our commitment to the FIA World Endurance Championship and to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

“Endurance racing is rooted in our DNA, and FIA WEC is definitely its pinnacle, so we are honoured and excited to be part of it once again.”

Mercedes back at Le Mans

For Mercedes, the new Iron Lynx relationship is a turning point. The German manufacturer has not had an on track presence at Le Mans of any kind since 1999, when it entered three Mercedes CLRs into the GTP class. 

However, the cars at a terrible habit of flipping at high speed, with Peter Dumbreck’s car famously flipping on the run between Mulsanne Corner and Indianapolis, landing off track between trees. Before this, a young Mark Webber’s Mercedes also flipped in warm up, and the same car, also with Webber at the wheel, also flipped in practice.

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Iron Lynx victorious at Petit Le Mans, Rexy grasps GTD Pro title https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/10/13/iron-lynx-victorious-at-petit-le-mans-rexy-grasps-gtd-pro-title/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/10/13/iron-lynx-victorious-at-petit-le-mans-rexy-grasps-gtd-pro-title/#respond Sun, 13 Oct 2024 02:33:13 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=182567 Iron Lynx won their first GTD Pro race at Road Atlanta's iconic Petit Le Mans

Jordan Pepper claimed victory for the #19 Iron Lynx team at the IMSA SportsCar Championship's 27th running of Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

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Iron Lynx won their first GTD Pro race at Road Atlanta's iconic Petit Le Mans

Jordan Pepper claimed victory for the #19 Iron Lynx team at the IMSA SportsCar Championship’s 27th running of Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

A dramatic, action-packed season finale concluded the 2024 season in entertaining fashion in the GTD and GTD Pro classes.

For GTD Pro, ‘Rexy’ narrowly grasped AO Racing’s first GTD Pro championship title having made the move from GTD for this year.

At the race start, Laurin Heinrich of the #77 AO Racing Porsche 911 GT3.R – also known as ‘Rexy’ – retained their pole position spot.

Tommy Milner was briefly side-by-side in his #4 Corvette Z06 GT3.R, before residing behind Rexy.

His teammate Antonio Garcia was behind in the #3 Corvette in promising formation, though Heinrich quickly established a gap up to five seconds.

The first caution, declared due to a stranded GTD car in the gravel, enabled some teams to opt for driver changes after just 20-minutes since lights out.

Back to green and the tension continued, especially between Oliver Jarvis’ #9 Pfaff Motorsports McLaren 720S and Madison Snow’s #1 Paul Miller Racing BMW M4.

The pair made contact at the bottom of the hill, causing Snow to skitter across the gravel trap in front of them.

During the caution period, only the #65 Ford Multimatic Mustang and the #62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 296 did not pit – which put them at the front.

More relevantly, Garcia got the better of Heinrich during the pit stop sequence, as Heinrich soon returned the favour for the net-lead.

Even though the front two did not pit, Heinrich caught them with his strong turn of race pace for Rexy.

Corvette's #4 team were unintentionally hit out in an incident
Corvette’s #4 team were unintentionally hit out in an incident – Credit: LAT Images / Copyright: © 2024 Richard Dole

Corvette suffers unlucky hit for the #4

Into the second racing hour, Julien Andlauer took over from Heinrich behind the wheel of the #77 Porsche.

Andlauer previously drove the #77 when Seb Priaulx departed earlier this season.

At 1-hour and 10-minutes into the race, misfortune struck for the #4 Corvette after Milner was hit into the wall at Turn 5 by Ben Keating, who momentarily recovered contact with another LMP2 rival.

The #4 suffered front- and rear-right suspension damage after hitting the wall.

It was not fully out of the running as it was transported back to the garage to repairs, but it was no longer in a competitive position.

After a second caution period, with less than 8-hours and 40-minutes remaining, disaster struck for the authoritative Rexy machine.

Andlauer nursed gear selection problems for several laps, with the swap to a new steering wheel not solving the issue.

He stopped at Turn 7 before he continued again, and so fell down the GT order as championship protagonists.

The #66 Gradient Racing Acura of Sheena Monk tapped with Jarvis’ #9 at T4, prompting a third caution.

She continued on her way seconds before the caution was declared, proving a timely chance for the #3 of Garcia to pit due to low brake pressure.

Whilst Corvette swapped out left-front brake calliper on the #3, the #77 was able to stay on the GTD Pro lead lap.

'Rexy' encountered issues which hampered its early hard work
‘Rexy’ encountered issues which hampered its early hard work – Credit: LAT Images / Copyright: © 2024 Richard Dole

Further pain for Rexy amidst electronic issues

Into the third racing hour, however, Rexy’s issues re-emerged.

It became apparent that Andlauer was dealing with a steering connector issue.

He pitted again as AO Racing’s mechanics replaced the wheel connecting cable.

The #14 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F of Ben Barnicoat took on the next spell of misfortune after a radiator issue.

Barnicoat parked at T7, was pulled behind the wall and the #14 retired.

Iron Lynx found their way into the lead fight with their #19 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2.

Various fuel strategies were at play with different cars having pitted at different times.

In the fight for third position, Ross Gunn and his #23 Heart of Racing Aston Martin Vantage chased down Alexander Sims’ #3 Corvette.

This was at least before Sims dived into the pits.

Even still, the fight for P4 was hot as Bryan Sellers (#1 BMW) fended off Frederic Vervisch’s #65 Ford.

This running of Petit Le Mans would mark Sellers’ final race with his well-affiliated Paul Miller Racing outfit.

Risi Competizione won showcased strong pace at the sharp end of GTD Pro
Risi Competizione showcased strong pace at the sharp end of GTD Pro – Credit: LAT Images / Copyright: © 2024 Jake Galstad

Risi Competizione back at the top over halfway point

Two titans – Lamborghini and Ferrari – were at the sharp end of GTD Pro competition.

Risi Competizione (#62 Ferrari) were fuelled by motivation to add to their maiden Daytona 24 Hours win in January.

Alessandro Pier Guidi (#62 Ferrari) commenced a good getaway after the fourth caution period.

Behind him was the #23 Aston Martin driven by Romain De Angelis.

Due to the #77’s woes, they would be unlikely to climb further up the field.

At this point, the championship odds were on the #23 Aston Martin in second position.

Specifically, second place and above was the key threshold for the #23 taking the title, otherwise it was in the #77’s favour.

The final three horus of Petit Le Mans runs in the night-time
The final three hours of Petit Le Mans runs in the night-time – Credit: LAT Images / Copyright: © 2024 Richard Dole

Darkness falls upon Road Atlanta

Nicky Catsburg (#4 Corvette) made contact with Mario Farnbacher’s #027 Aston Martin which endured a 360-degree spin.

The #4 was given a drive-though for incident responsibility.

A surprisingly long run of green flag racing – with reference to last year’s 12 cautions – allowed competitors to settle.

All the while, the #77 still resided 11th in-class into the final two hours.

The odds were still in their favour to win the GTD Pro championship, with the Drivers’ Title going to Heinrich, by four points.

Ross Gunn (#23 Aston Martin) was 42 seconds behind Daniel Serra’s #62 Ferrari which held second place.

It was a tall order for Heart of Racing, but not impossible.

During the final hour, the tension resumed after Corey Lewis dramatically crashed in the #55 Proton GTD-entered Ford Mustang.

Fortunately, he was attentive after his impact; the same could not be said for his Mustang.

Rexy and AO Racing took their first GTD Pro title in their maiden season in the class
Rexy and AO Racing took their first GTD Pro title in their maiden season in the class – Credit: LAT Images / Copyright: © 2024 Michael L. Levitt

Maiden GTD Pro victory for Iron Lynx, Rexy reigns title glory

By the end of 413 laps, Jordan Pepper won the race in the GTD Pro category for Iron Lynx, with Mirko Bortolotti and Franck Perrera.

Second place was 2.3 seconds back in the form of Risi Competizione.

Their #62 Ferrari crew consisted of Daniel Serra and his co-drivers Alessandro Pier Guidi and Davide Rigon.

Unfortunately for Heart of Racing, they lost out on title glory by 1.8 seconds and 4 points.

Heinrich became the drivers’ champion whilst AO Racing won the effort as a team.

In spite of that, Ross Gunn and his co-drivers Romain De Angelis and Alex Riberas earned the final podium spot.

Their sibling #027 entrant finished fourth with Marco Sorensen at the wheel.

Fifth was claimed by Alexander Sims and his #3 Corvette team.

In GTD, Albert Costa Balboa muscled his way with a late move into the lead for Conquest Racing.

He kept himself ahead of the #78 Forte Racing Lamborghini (Loris Spinelli) to win in GTD.

Vasser Sullivan took third in the hands of Aaron Telitz.

Down in ninth place, Winward Racing concluded their dominant 2024 campaign en route to their GTD championship title.

Stay tuned for an in-depth GTD category race report on Sunday, on Motorsport Week

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Iron Lynx and Dames complete FIA WEC LMGT3 lineups https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/01/30/iron-lynx-and-dames-complete-fia-wec-lmgt3-lineups/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/01/30/iron-lynx-and-dames-complete-fia-wec-lmgt3-lineups/#respond Tue, 30 Jan 2024 13:44:49 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=150339

The Iron Lynx and Iron Dames squads have confirmed their final driver rosters to compete in the eight-round FIA World Endurance Championship in the LMGT3 category behind the wheel of Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo 2 machines. In the #60 Iron Lynx entry, previously Claudio Schiavoni will be joined by Matteo Cressoni – who will campaign […]

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The Iron Lynx and Iron Dames squads have confirmed their final driver rosters to compete in the eight-round FIA World Endurance Championship in the LMGT3 category behind the wheel of Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo 2 machines.

In the #60 Iron Lynx entry, previously Claudio Schiavoni will be joined by Matteo Cressoni – who will campaign his fourth FIA WEC season with the squad.

The pair will be joined by Lamborghini Squadra Corse factory driver Franck Perera, who will make his FIA WEC debut in 2024 after racing for the Iron Lynx in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup rounds at Daytona, Sebring and Road Atlanta in 2023, as well as this year’s Daytona 24 Hours.

The Iron Dames will be looking to press on from their historic win in the last ever GTE race in Bahrain last year and three-time polesitter from 2023 Sarah Bovy will continue to race in pink aboard the #85 Huracan, joining the previously announced and fellow GTE race-winner Michelle Gatting.

Having competed in the 2023 campaign in the LMP2 campaign for PREMA, Dorianne Pin comes into the LMGT3 class to complete the #85 driver roster.

Pin will balance her FIA WEC duties with a maiden campaign in the all-female F1 Academy single-seater series, where she will continue her relationship with PREMA as a recently announced Mercedes-AMG Junior.

Bovy, Gatting and Pin, along with Rahel Frey recently contested this year’s Daytona 24 Hours in IMSA, achieving a best-ever result of 6th in the GTD class.

“It is very exciting to be able to announce our complete line-up for the LMGT3 category in FIA WEC in 2024,” said Andrea Piccini, Iron Lynx Team Principal and CEO.

“Having already worked with Franck in the United States, I am very happy to have him join our team on the global stage.

“Doriane’s progress in the last few years has been exceptional and I am thrilled to have her racing with us this year.

“She is an incredible talent and will complement both Sarah and Michelle’s strengths massively.

“It is also great to have Sarah and Matteo continue with the team after some stellar performances throughout 2023.”

The 2024 FIA WEC season kicks off with the 1812 km of Qatar on March 2.

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Iron Lynx goes rallying in France https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/01/16/iron-lynx-goes-rallying-in-france/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2024/01/16/iron-lynx-goes-rallying-in-france/#respond Tue, 16 Jan 2024 13:30:56 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=147319

Iron Lynx will field a two-car entry in the upcoming French Rally Championship with the Ford Fiesta Rally2 car, with a third entry being run under the Iron Dames banner. The move marks a new venture for the team and enhances its motorsport portfolio by adding an entirely new discipline to its programme. The team will be assisted […]

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Iron Lynx will field a two-car entry in the upcoming French Rally Championship with the Ford Fiesta Rally2 car, with a third entry being run under the Iron Dames banner.
 

The move marks a new venture for the team and enhances its motorsport portfolio by adding an entirely new discipline to its programme.
 
The team will be assisted in this new venture by renowned rally team Sarrazin Motorsport, fronted by former World Endurance Championship, World Rally Championship, Formula E and Formula One driver Stéphane Sarrazin.
 
Jean-Baptiste Franceschi, 27, is the first driver to be announced for the team. The reigning French Gravel champion won twice in 2023 and finished five more times in the top three on his way to the title.
 
The 2021 FIA ERC3 and ERC3 Junior champion’s co-driver will be announced at a later date.
 
The second driver announced is Réhane Gany. The promising 22-year-old second-generation driver is already establishing a strong pedigree in rallying and has already participated in both the French Rally and French Gravel Rally championships.
 
In 2023, he participated in a handful of championships including the Stellantis Cup France and French Cup, having built experience in the French Gravel Championship in 2022 having made his full-time rally foray in 2021.
 
The co-driver for this entry will be former Junior World Rally Championship co-driver Franck Le Floch.

Andrea Piccini, Iron Lynx Team Principal and CEO, said: “Today marks a historic moment for the Iron Lynx name, by expanding into a completely new discipline in rallying.

“It is a very exciting time to welcome new names to the Iron Lynx family, especially some with vast experience in rallying.

“Stéphane and I go a long way back to the International Formula 3000 days in 1999 and is a former team-mate of mine from the GT1 era at Le Mans, and we shared a car that took to the podium in Utah in the American Le Mans Series so we already know what it means to be successful together and we aim to continue that into our new venture.”

Image: Iron Dames

 
The Iron Dames-run car will be piloted by Sarah Rumeau, 2022 French Women’s Champion, alongside co-driver Julie Amblard. This entry will also participate in the six-round French Gravel Rally Championship.

Rumeau said, “I am so happy to be able to join the Iron Dames project; it is a very important moment in my career.

“It is an honour and an incredible opportunity to be the first representatives in rallying.

“I would like to thank Deborah Mayer for her confidence and support.”

Mayer, Iron Dames Project Founder added, “I am extremely pleased to open this new chapter in the exciting world of rallying and to welcome Sarah and Julie to the Iron Dames family.

“After endurance, Formula 4, karting and equestrian sports, the Iron Dames project is continuing its development by giving more and more women the chance to evolve and shine in sports whose beauty is that they compete on equal terms with men.

“With their passion and determination to reach the highest level in their discipline, Sarah and Julie embrace the spirit and values of the project.

“We are delighted to benefit from the expertise and know-how of Stéphane Sarrazin and his teams.

“This guarantees that our drivers will be racing in the best possible conditions. We are all committed to helping them realise their dreams.”

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Gallery: A first glimpse at the brand-new Lamborghini SC63 Hypercar at Daytona https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/12/07/gallery-a-first-glimpse-at-the-brand-new-lamborghini-sc63-hypercar-at-daytona/ https://www.motorsportweek.com/2023/12/07/gallery-a-first-glimpse-at-the-brand-new-lamborghini-sc63-hypercar-at-daytona/#respond Thu, 07 Dec 2023 13:00:22 +0000 https://www.motorsportweek.com/?p=141106

Lamborghini’s new SC63 LMDh turned its first laps at the Daytona International Speedway during the IMSA-sanctioned test, emerging quickest at the end of the day in the hands of Andrea Caldarelli. The first of two days-worth of IMSA-sanctioned testing commenced at the Daytona International Speedway (Road Course), giving a first taste as to what awaits […]

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Lamborghini’s new SC63 LMDh turned its first laps at the Daytona International Speedway during the IMSA-sanctioned test, emerging quickest at the end of the day in the hands of Andrea Caldarelli.

The first of two days-worth of IMSA-sanctioned testing commenced at the Daytona International Speedway (Road Course), giving a first taste as to what awaits in the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, featuring Jenson Button, Sean Creech’s Ligier JS P217 and more.

Lamborghini’s SC63 utilises a 3.8 twin-turbo V8 engine which is mated to the LMDh specification Bosch hybrid motor generator unit, as the chassis is developed in partnership with Ligier, and the team will be run in partnership with Iron Lynx.

As a result, the SC63 will be their maiden presence in the GTP category from the second round of the season – the 12 Hours of Sebring – as further testing is set to take place following outings at Imola, Paul Ricard, Almeria and Jerez so far.

Caldarelli was joined by Mirko Bortolotti, Romain Grosjean and Daniil Kvyat who all shared driving duties in Italian marque’s answer to the new Hypercar era.

The first day (6 December) enabled GTP and LMP2 cars to drive at a dry and clear Daytona venue, with the GTD and GTD Pro cars set to join them on the second day (7 December).

Images courtesy of Richard Dole / LAT Images – © 2023.

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